Distance running keeps Gloucester woman on path to a healthy future

Running has not only given Gloucester resident Stacey Stanforth a new body, but it’s also given her a new outlook on life.

A year ago, Stanforth weighed 243 pounds, wore a size 18, couldn’t run for four minutes at a time and didn’t have any particular cause she was fighting for. Today, she weighs 143, wears a size 6 to 8, runs half-marathons, and is dedicated to eradicating leukemia and lymphoma.

"I looked at myself one day and said ‘what am I doing,’" she said. "I had three kids and I wanted to be around for them."